Well, the Olympics are past the half way point, and now that the swimming is over, I’ve pretty much lost interest in them (until the Closing Ceremony – I like the Closing Ceremony – not as much as the Opening Ceremony, but it is one of the highlights of the games for me.)

Obviously, I was being too ambitious by entering myself into the Decathlon. Clearly, I should have entered the Pentathlon , or perhaps the Biathlon (yes, I know that’s a Winter Olympics event…

I’m probably not going to be on the medal podium, but let’s review where I’m at my challenge:

1. Finish the SBEBB biscornu exchange 
Done. I’m not going to post a full picture of the piece, since it hasn’t been received, but I will post a “teaser”, because in my challenge, I said I would post a picture of each of the pieces I worked on as part of the challenge:

2. Start the SBEBB Autumn House exchange piece.
I haven’t started this as yet.

3. Start & finish stitching the middle section of “Little House Neighborhood”
I have started the middle section, but am not close to finishing.  Here’s where I’m at as of this evening:

4. Finish stitching 2nd square of “Shores of Hawk Run Hollow”.
Moving right along – I haven’t even started this square.

5. Start CCN’s “Needlework Shop”
I’ve made a start, and here’s a picture:

“Needlework Shop” © Country Cottage Needleworks
Stitched with DMC on 28 ct. Natural Pearl Linen.

I can’t take credit for all of this.  Nicole stitched the border, and then decided that she didn’t like the fabric, so I offered to take it off her hands.

6. Finish stitching “Quilting” 
Done. Here’s my second stitching of this piece. I used the same fabric & fibers as the first time I stitched this piece:

“Quilting” from the “Little Women” series © Little House Needleworks
Stitched with Crescent Colours on 28 ct. Antique White Jobelan.

7. Finish LHN’s “Always & Forever”
Also done. I posted a picture last week. I finished stitching it, but haven’t actually “finished” it, so I haven’t sent it to my mum & dad. Maybe next week?

8. Spend at least an evening (minimum 3 hours) working on “Roses”.
Not as yet.  I’m planning on doing that tomorrow night.

9. Spend at least an evening (minimum 3 hours) working on “The Gift of a Friend”.
Maybe Wednesday night?

10. Post a picture to my blog of each of the pieces that I worked on during the Decathlon.
I’ll add updated pictures as I have more progress to show.

So, at this stage of the Games, I have an outside chance to take the bronze. Barring a miracle of some sort, there’s no way I’m taking the gold – with only 6 days of competition left, there’s no way that I can complete #4. Silver’s looking doubtful, too – that would require that I put a lot more hours into #3.

Still, as I’m always telling my son, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. That counts for something, right?